converting standard Lang entrance to a round pipe entrance to control SHB???

1471 Views 2 Replies 3 Participants Last post by drlonzo, Jul 28, 2014

ruthiesbees

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2014

Someone posted on the FB backyard beekeeping page that they converted their entrance on their Lang hive into a "PVC pipe entrance". The comments were that if you use a PVC pipe with a 90 degree turn (facing downward) that the small hive beetles won't be able to enter the hive. This is the first time I have heard of that, but I do think my top bar hives with their round entrance holes seem to have fewer SHB's than other hives (although I don't have the entrance turned downward as was suggested).

Has anyone else heard if this is true? I've never seen a SHB fly into a hive, so I'm not sure how they figure a 90 degree angle will help the situation.

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vdotmatrix

· #2 · Jul 28, 2014

interesting...i read something briefly about that lemme research....

ruthiesbees said:
Someone posted on the FB backyard beekeeping page that they converted their entrance on their Lang hive into a "PVC pipe entrance". The comments were that if you use a PVC pipe with a 90 degree turn (facing downward) that the small hive beetles won't be able to enter the hive. This is the first time I have heard of that, but I do think my top bar hives with their round entrance holes seem to have fewer SHB's than other hives (although I don't have the entrance turned downward as was suggested).

Has anyone else heard if this is true? I've never seen a SHB fly into a hive, so I'm not sure how they figure a 90 degree angle will help the situation.

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drlonzo

· #3 · Jul 28, 2014

ruthiesbees said:
Someone posted on the FB backyard beekeeping page that they converted their entrance on their Lang hive into a "PVC pipe entrance". The comments were that if you use a PVC pipe with a 90 degree turn (facing downward) that the small hive beetles won't be able to enter the hive. This is the first time I have heard of that, but I do think my top bar hives with their round entrance holes seem to have fewer SHB's than other hives (although I don't have the entrance turned downward as was suggested).

Has anyone else heard if this is true? I've never seen a SHB fly into a hive, so I'm not sure how they figure a 90 degree angle will help the situation.

SBH's normally act just like a robber bee would when it comes into a hive. It dives straight into the entrance. Keeping hives with large populations and smaller entrances is actually a really good defense against SHB. I have kept my reducers in all year and the hives haven't a SHB in them at all that i can find. I also keep my hives very strong too. So the thought of the opening being turned down is a good thought, but if the hive is weak it won't help as they will just walk in after landing on the pipe.

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